Politics & Government
County Supe Dave Cortese Runs For Mayor
Longtime San Jose politician faces four other contenders for San Jose's mayoral seat.
Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese announced this week that he will enter the San Jose mayoral race.
Four other candidates have also expressed an interest in running and include San Jose Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen, San Jose Council members Sam Liccardo, Pete Constant and Pierluigi Oliverio.
The winner will succeed San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed in 2014.
Cortese pulled his papers to run Wednesday afternoon in the San Jose City Clerk’s office.
“San Jose deserves a mayor who has a strong vision for the future of our great city while focusing on the issues that affect our residents every day – keeping our community safe, creating jobs, addressing homelessness, repairing streets, and supporting our wonderful libraries and community centers," Cortese said in a statement released to the media.
"I am running for mayor to put my unique experience to work and bring our proud city back together after recent years of infighting at City Hall,” said Cortese.
Cortese has more than 20 years of public service. Prior to his election to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, he served for eight years on the San Jose City Council, including two years as vice mayor.
Before that he was a trustee for the East Side Union High School District and a small business owner.
Cortese also unveiled a list of community, neighborhood, public safety, education and other leaders from throughout San Jose who cited Cortese’s experience fighting on behalf of San Jose residents and his vision for the city’s future as their reasons for supporting him.
His early supporters include Congressman Mike Honda, Sheriff Laurie Smith, Assembly members Paul Fong, Mark Stone and Bob Wieckowski, County Supervisors Ken Yeager and Cindy Chavez, and San Jose City Councilmembers Don Rocha, Kansen Chu, and Ash Kalra.
Cortese currently represents District 3 on the Board of Supervisors, which includes Evergreen, East Foothills, Berryessa, North San Jose, and Alviso.
As a county supervisor, Cortese has secured funding for numerous transportation projects and gang prevention programs.
Cortese grew up in San Jose as part of a family that has been active in civic, cultural and business activities for generations, the release said.
He attended Bellarmine College Prep, UC Davis, and Lincoln University Law School in San Jose.
He and his wife, Pattie, have four children.
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